NEW ZEALAND CRUISERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 13 January 1938, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND CRUISERS

TO VISIT AUSTRALIA COMBINED EXERCISES TO BE HELD [By Telegraph—Press Association 1 WELLINGTON, 11th January. The two cruisers of the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy, H.M.S. Achilles and H.M.S. Lcander, which are shortly to make a cruise to Australia, will leave Auckland on 20th January. The Achilles, at the invitation of the New South Wales Government, will visit Sydney for the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the state, and will be there about a fortnight. The Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) said to-day that the Leander is to visit Hobart at the invitation of the Government of Tasmania for the centenary of the Royal Hobart regatta, and will be there between 18th and 24th February. Both ships will take the opportunity, while in Australian waters, to visit Melbourne.

Arrangements have also been made for combined gunnery and torpedo exercises with the Royal Australian Navy at Jervis Bay from 9th to 15th February. Then will follow two days’ strategical exercises at sea, under the direction of the rearadmiral commanding the Royal Australian Squadron.

Both New Zealand cruisers will return to New Zealand waters early in March, and later they will be at Wellington, the Achilles from Ist April to 19th April, and the Leander from 4th March to 4th April. After a period of annual musketry training at Trentham camp, including the holding of the squadron rifle shooting contest, further exercises have been arranged for the vessels from 21st to 28th April in the Hauraki Gulf. Both ships will then return to the naval base at Auckland to give leave and undertake refitting work.